Produced by George T. Wein
Honoring Dorothy Cullman at the Tenth Anniversary Celebration
Benefit for The Friends of Education Fund

Jon Faddis on Trumpet
David Hazeltine on Piano
Kiyoshi Kitagawa on Bass
Dion Parson on Drums
Jo Lawry on Vocals

Dr. Roberta E. ZlokowerDecember 7, 2004

The newly expanded and re-built, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) on West 53rd Street, NY, will be reviewed as an art museum in the near future. A few photos of the new MoMA interior are below. I will say, at this time, that I was extremely impressed, and it was oh so wonderful to be reunited with Monet’s grand canvases of Water Lilies in Giverny once again. I was a longtime member of MoMA, and spent many a summer afternoon in the original sculpture garden and wandering the exhibits of contemporary and Impressionist art, as well as the media and film presentations. I look forward to a thorough immersion into this new and very missed home of some of the greatest works of art in New York.

Tonight’s event was a formal Benefit for MoMA’s Friends of Education, a 50-member group founded in 1993, founded by Agnes Gund, Akosua Barthwell Evans, and David Rockefeller, Jr., to acquire art and establish programs that benefit African American artists and attract African American audiences. Their mission extends to outreach, financial support, and other assistance. Numerous works have been purchased through this partnership, including drawings, prints, and paintings. Chairman of this Fund is Stewart W. Lewis, MD, and Chairman of this Benefit is Sherry B. Bronfman.

Following a champagne and hors d’oeuvres reception in MoMA’s new spaces, a jazz concert by the Jon Faddis Quartet was held in the newly refurbished Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 1. Comments by George T. Wein, David Rockefeller, Jr., Sherry B. Bronfman, Dr. Stewart W. Lewis, and Jon Faddis introduced the purpose of this Benefit and the nature of the jazz event. Mr. Wein remembered the original Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, led by Mr. Faddis for so many years behind Carnegie Hall.

The first piece, Gillespiana, a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie, was inherently about Dizzy’s music for the globe. Mr. Faddis’ trumpet was powerful and possessed. The second piece, with smooth piano, bass, and muted trumpet, was cool and calm, amidst the black on white architecture. David Hazeltine’s piano riff was melodic, contrasted to Mr. Faddis’ extended and existential high notes. A blues/swing motif was then introduced, echoing the original theme in whispered effect.

The next piece, led by Dion Parson on drums, included a percussive trumpet as well, with sensational staccato blasts that melted into sensual and soft Latin rhythms. Mr. Faddis’ titanic trumpet soon took off to abstract aberrations, with a ballad of fused Latin swing, seductive brushed drums, and finally a wild percussive potion of Latin jazz. Jo Lawry, an Australian vocalist, sang September in the Rain, with vivacious vibrancy and endless, extended notes. Her rendition of Polka Dots and Moonbeams was joined by Kiyoshi Kitagawa’s bass solo, brilliant and rich. Tea for Two, with scat and sass, was echoed by Mr. Faddis’ trumpet in hot swing.